Shoe-fastening.



M. G GRUNDIWANN.

SHOE FASTENING. APPLICATION min 007.12.19l6.

1 wmmw Patented M 23, mm.

ATTORNEY MICHAEL e. enunniaamv, or JEARJEBAULT, MlNNESo'Sm-t,

SHOE-FASTFNING.

Application filed October 12, 1916.

To; all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MICHAEL Gr. GRUND- MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Faribault, in the county of lhtice and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Fastenings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in shoe fast'enings, and more particularly to a fastening of this character which can be applied upon shoes of the better type, as distinguished from storm or overshoes, and which presents at once a neat and pleasing appearance.

An object of. my invention is to provide a fastening which may be applied to the shoe asmanufactured, to take the place of the usual buttons or eyeletsand lace, and which fastening is so constructed that a Very close fitting closure is accomplished and the shoe at the point of fastening will present a smooth and neat appearance.

A further object lies in so constructing the device of my invention that reinforce ment may be introduced into the shoe structure to strengthen the fastening means and insure that the fastening will be durable and lasting in use, this reinforcing also acting to aid in maintaining theproper shape of the shoe upper.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter set forth in connection with the drawings and then more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the quarter of a shoe with parts of the fastening thereon.

Fig. 2 is a view of the closing fly to show the manner of introducing the reinforcing.

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation showing the closing fly fitted over the quarter and secured in place.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the joining edges of the quarter and the closing fly with the fastening shown in the operative connection.

Fig. '5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a slightly modified form which the fastening might take.

Fig. 6 is a View similar'to Fig. 2 with parts modified to adapt the same for use with the structure shown in Fig. 5.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented duly $3, faith,

Serial No. 125,235

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the connection of the quarter and the closing fly as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view through the button edge of the quarter and the connecting edge of the closing fly.

I The quarter 1 is shaped to be of substantially the same form as is used on the present button shoe, as is also the closing flap 2 so that these parts will close smoothly and snugly as is better shown in Fig. 3.

The quarter 1 has a plurality of hooks3, which have the widened out base as indicated. at 4t and then only a short bill, as better shown in Fig. l, and the hooks are secured in rigid mounting upon the quarter at properly spaced intervals and in a line to be preferably about equidistant from the edge of the quarter, although it will. of course be understood as the description progresses that these hooks 3 can be varied in their positioning upon the quarter to thus vary the lap of the closing flap or fly thereover to secure the proper fit upon the ankle of the wearer. The closing fly 2 has the edge 5 thereof turned or rolled over as is better shown in Fig. 4 and a reinforcing wire or strip 6 is placed in the fold to be secured in the bight of the leather where the flap edge 5 is turned over and secured down. The flap '5 has the openings 7 formed therethrough at positions corresponding to the placing of the books 3, and as this flap is turned over the wire or reinforcing strip 6 and is secured down, the holes or openings 7 are disposed inside of the wire 6 and thus openings are provided through which the hooks may be fitted to be engaged over the wire '6 after the manner shown in Fig. 4.

In the use of the shoe constructed after the manner of my invention, it will of course be understood that the structure will have been embodied in the shoe as manufactured, and that the parts have been especially formed for the adoption of this particular type of fastening, and after the shoe has been placed upon the foot, the closing fly 2 is brought down, over the quarter 1 and the hooks 3 are inserted through the openings 7 to engage around and back of the wire 6, so that these books will be held against wihdrawal or against tearing out from the material of the closing fly. By the arrangement of the parts in this manner, the hooks are fitted through the openings 7 to have the bills thereof covered and protected by the outer or main portion of the fly 2 where it rollsover the wire 6, and thus the usual roughness as presented at the fastening of button or lace shoes is. eliminated, thus making a shoe which will not wear'thejbottom of thetrousers, the edge of a skirt, or'other clothing of the user, and at the same time the fastening secures the parts in such a relation that dirt, rain, snow, etc., are excluded. Vhen it is desired to release the closing fly so that the shoe may be removed, slight drawing tension upon the fly 2, in the direction in which it is lapped over the quarter 1 will move the fly over sufliciently that the bills of the hooks 3 will be released from their engagement around the wire 6 and consequently the hooks may be again withdrawn from their insertion within theopenings 7 leaving the fly 2 free to be. raised or bent over from its position of closure against the quarter 1.

In the modified form of the structure, the

" quarter 8 has the headed studs 9 mounted thereon, these studs being preferably passed and clenched through the quarter 8 by the use of the heads 10, as better shown in Fig. 8. The closing fly 11 has openings 12 provided throughv the flap 13 thereof in substantially the same line and spacing as is observedin. the placing of the headed studs 9, and a second row of openings, 14, is formed through the body of the fly 11, these openings 14 however, being spaced sufficiently from the openings 12 that the reinforcing wire or strip 15 may be fitted therebetween. When the flap 13 has been rolled over the wire 15 and secured down, the openings 12 and 14 register, and in the use of this shoe the securing action is very similarto that used in securing a button shoe. As the closing fly 11 is brought over and down against the quarter 8, the headed studs 9 will be substantially in registry with the pairs of alined openings 12 and 14, and by the exertion of slight pressure against the closing fly when the openings are placed upon the heads of the studs 9, these heads will be forced through the alined openings and the shanks ofv the studs will be received back of the reinforcing wire 15, the heads of these studs 9 acting to hold the closing .fly against casual release. 'VVhile this modified form of the fastening does not present the advantage that the hooks or studs are entirely c overed yet the only portion of the studs which isexposed is the heads and as these heads are made substantially spherical in shape, they-present a neat appearance and dohnot materially roughen the shoe structure so that it will fray the garment of the wearer.

7 While in the'foregoing I have only mentioned the outer or main layers of the shoe upper andthe disclosure in the drawings shows'only these portions, it will of course 1 be understood that the shoe upon which the fastening is applied will be constructed in the usual and approved manner and will be lined and otherwise finished to meet the particular requirement in the use to which it is to be put, and also it will be apparent that. a number of variations and modifications might be resorted to in the form and arrangement of the several parts and in the manner of securing the same in conjunction with the shoe structure without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, in view of which fact I do not wish to be limited to the exact disclosure but rather to such points as may be set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. A shoe fastening comprising in combination with a shoe having a. closing fly adapted to overlap the edge of the quarter, a plurality of upstanding members mounted in spaced relation upon the quarter adjacent to the edge thereof, a flap on the edge of the closing fly provided with a plurality of openings and, folded under and secured down to the closing fly to present the openings in a relation to receive the upstanding members, said upstanding members being protected and covered by the outer or main portion of the fly.

2. A shoe fastening comprising in combi nation with a shoe having a closing fly adapted to overlap the, edge of the quarter, a plurality ofupstanding members mounted in spaced relation upon the quarter adjacent to the edge thereof, a flap on the edge of the closing fly provided with a plurality of openings and folded under and secured down to the closing fly to present the openings in a relation to receive the upstanding members, and a reinforcing wire introduced into the bight where the flap is folded down to have the upstanding members received thereagainst and to hold the same against tearing out.

3. A shoe fastening comprising in combination with a shoe having a closing fly adapted to overlap the edge of the quarter, a reinforcing member, a flap edge on said closing fly brought down over the reinforcing member to secure the same in place at the edge of the fly, said closing fly being provided with openings adjacent to the reinforcing member, and upstanding members carried by the quarter in spaced relation corresponding to the spacing of the openings of the fly to be received in these openings against the reinforcing member and to thus secure the fly in the closed relation.

4. A shoe fastening comprising in combination with a shoe having a closing fly adapted to overlap the edge of the quarter. a reinforcing strip comprising a curved length of wire, a flap edge on said closing fly brought down over the reinforcing member and secured to the closing fly to thus emeeo I mount the curved length of Wire at the edge of the fly, said flap edge having openings foi'med therethi'ough adjacent the reinforcing member and on the inner side thereof; and upstanding members carried by the quarter at spaced points corresponding to the spacing of the openings of the fly to be? received in these openings and to engage cure the fly in the closed relation.

in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses GEO. MORK, C. M. STOCKTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing: the floinmisstoner oi! Patten Wnehtngton, n. W

back of thereinforoing member to thus se- In testimony whereof I afiix my signature MICHAEL Gr. GRUNDMANN. 

